NETWORKING: A DEFINITIVE GUIDE

FOR STUDENTS AND GRADS TO

SUCCEED IN THE JOB SEARCH
INDEX

Slide 3/ Where to start networking Slide 5/ How much time to spend

networking and job searching

Slide 6/ The best elevator pitch Slide 8/ Informational interviews

Slide 11/ Tips for college seniors to

find a job by graduation
Slide 16/ Number one networking tip
for introverts

Slide 17/ Joining a professional

association Slide 21/ Networking mistakes

Slide 24/ How to engage

authentically
Where to start
networking

Think of networking like a wheel. You are at the

center of the wheel and there are spokes going out
to all of your connections. Now, imagine you have
20 spokes on the wheel. If those 20 connections
have spokes of their going out to 20 more
connections, you already have 400 people that you
can reach out to.

What do you say when you reach out? You can

reach out to learn about their own job, send them
your resume, tell them your goals, ask for job
opportunities or an informational interview.
Where to start
networking

Who counts as a connection?

• Your close friends

• Family
• Friends of friends, and friends of family
• Mentors and professors
• Coworkers
• Classmates
• Alumni
• Volunteer coordinators and supervisors
How much time
to spend
networking

As a student, your goal should be to spend about

10 hours a week networking and job searching. And
some of that time needs to be off screen, meaning
at events or meeting people at their offices or for
coffee. For example, you should spend time on:

• Researching companies
• Applying for jobs
• Preparing for interviews
• Preparing for events by looking at who’s going
and researching them online
• Planning and updating your resume
• Meeting with people face to face
Your elevator
pitch

Be as specific as you can about what you’re looking for. Tell a

quick story—maybe something you accomplished recently in a
class or work—and then conclude with what exactly you hope this
person can do for you. (For example, giving your resume to
someone.)

Think about who you want to be. How do you want other people to
perceive you? You are the best person to control how people
perceive you, so get comfortable telling people who you are.

If your future goals are too broad, people won’t know how to help
you. You don’t have to know exactly what you want out of your
career, but find some focus, at least to start off with. It helps to
write down your strengths, weaknesses and interests.
Your elevator
pitch

Your pitch is only the beginning of the conversation. Whoever

you’re speaking to will ask you questions, but you will have stated
who you are, what you’re looking for, and something interesting
about yourself.

People love talking about themselves, so ask them how they got
started in their career. Find something you have in common (either
beforehand by researching them online, or during the
conversation). This will help them remember you. Make sure to
offer to help them as well. People like to reciprocate, so if you see
your networking as a two-way street, they’re more likely to help.

After you meet a new connection, don’t forget to follow up.

Connect with them on LinkedIn or send them an email.
Informational
interviews

During the informational interview, you’re not asking

your connection for a job. Think of it as gathering data.
You’re doing research and you may come back to
them a month later and knock on their door. Ask them
questions, and engage in conversation. That makes it
easier for them to help you.
Informational
interviews

Meet your connection at their office or take them out for coffee.
Ask about themselves first, so they know you’re interested in
their field and aren’t pressured to hand you a job immediately.
You can ask these questions:

• “How did you get started in your career?

• “What is the typical week like in the entry level job here?”
• “What is the work culture is like?”
• “What does success look like if you come into the job?
• “What outcomes have you achieved in your career?”
• “What are the key skills, knowledge and interests that this
employer looks for on a resume?”
 Read more about where to start
and elevator pitches at:

www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2017/08/28/tips-from-expert-recruiters-the-best-elevator-pitch-and-how-much-time-to-spend-networking/

www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2017/08/21/brand-yourself-sounds-intimidating-two-recruiting-experts-discuss-how-and-why-job-seekers-should-care/
 Tips for college seniors to
find a job by graduation
Most large companies
will have filled their
positions by spring.
Don’t wait.

Here are 6 things to do

your last year of
college.

1. Understand what’s important to you. Do a self-inventory of your interests, values,

personality traits, and strengths. This exercise will help you determine the companies
and types of career paths that may be right for you.

2. Use your resources. Career centers can help you in your job search by doing mock
interviews, resume critiques, and informing you of when employers are coming to
campus to recruit. Your fellow students can help you by connecting you with their
current or former employers.
 Tips for college seniors to
find a job by graduation

6 things to do your last

year of college

3. Grow your network but don’t go overboard. Focus on quality over quantity. Focus your
networking strategy on a short list of companies that are an ideal fit for you.

4. Before you meet with someone, take the time to learn about who they are, and try to
find common ground so you can connect on a personal level.

5. Always follow-up with an email or phone call to keep the conversation going.

6. Before you go to career fairs, apply for jobs, or network in other ways, make sure to
update your resume, your LinkedIn profile, and practice what you say about yourself
when you introduce yourself.
 Tips for college seniors to
find a job by graduation

Little networking
things to do every
day

• Request to connect on LinkedIn with people you meet

• Attend discussions happening on campus.
• Join a new club or organization
• Collaborate with new peers on group projects
• Ask professors to help you do a self-inventory of your skills and interests, and ask if
they have connections in the professional world.
• Visit your career center. Not utilizing those resources would be flying blind.
• Connect with alumni who work at companies you’re interested in.
• Ask the president of your college or university for a quick meeting—he or she will
likely be impressed by your initiative.
 Tips for college seniors to
find a job by graduation

Little networking
things to do every
day

One meeting or email is never enough to assume that your network will find you a job.
Always follow up with a thank-you, as well as occasional check-ins to give them any
updates about yourself or ask about their own work and lives.

Don’t stress about finding the perfect job that’s going to map out the rest of your career.
You may have your life planned out and you may not, but life throws a lot of curveballs
along the way.
 Read more tips for college seniors at:
www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2017/08/22/recent-graduate-jobs-are-harder-to-find-at-the-last-minute-job-search-tips-for-seniors-interview/

www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2017/08/29/tips-from-eys-campus-recruiting-team-to-find-jobs-for-new-graduates/
 Number one networking tip for introverts
To succeed in networking as an introvert, try
volunteering at a networking event or conference.

BUILT-IN OPPORTUNITY CHECK PEOPLE IN

Volunteering at a Checking people in to an
conference provides the event provides an
built-in opportunity to make opportunity to break the
connections with many ice and already meet
professionals, while every person attending
focusing on your task and the event.
purpose at hand.

WORK A BOOTH JOIN A COMMITTEE

When working at a table Pre-event meetings let you
or booth, most who meet key members of the
approach you will start event, and it looks great on
the conversation. a resume. Ask to help plan
guest speakers, which
gives you direct access to
key movers and shakers in
the industry.
Joining a
professional
association

Joining an industry-related association or trade

organization is a great way for students and grads to
network, meet other like-minded professionals, and learn.

Meeting people is only one reason why joining industry

associations are highly recommended for college students
and recent college grads.
Joining a
professional
association

Joining professional associations allows you to stay on top

of industry trends, learn about volunteer or leadership
opportunities, and enables project collaboration.

Further, employers like candidates for their jobs who step

outside their comfort zone. Joining an association shows
employers that you are serious about developing ongoing
skills, advancing in your profession, and can take initiative
to learn on your own.
Joining a
professional
association

How to get the most out of your professional association:

• Approach and be approachable: Approach others from

a humanistic point of view. Remember that the goal of
networking is to build relationships, not ask
immediately for an interview or a job.
• Be present: Attending the association events will help
you reinforce connections you’ve made – making you
a better professional for the long run.
• Be responsive: Networking success relies on how
frequently you get in touch with people you’ve met.
Even a simple “congratulations on your promotion”
message on social media is impactful.
 Read more tips for joining
professional associations:
https://www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2016/11/18/recent-college-grads-benefit-joining-professional-associations/
 Networking mistakes

Employers won’t
automatically tell you
about job opportunities.

Avoid these mistakes

when networking.

• Don’t ask people immediately if they know of any open jobs. It’s good to be clear that
you’re looking for work, but no one will recommend you if they don’t know anything
about you first.

• Don’t blindly reaching out without knowing basic information about the person. You
can find basic details on their LinkedIn profiles or company websites.

• Don’t expect your connections to tell you exactly what to do. Before reaching out,
know what kind of information you’d like from them.
 Networking mistakes

Employers won’t
automatically tell you
about job opportunities.

Avoid these mistakes

when networking.

• Don’t think that the number of connections matters. Networking is about building
helpful relationships, not about how many people you know. Target your outreach to
people who work at companies or in fields that interest you.

• Don’t be too informal. Treat networking opportunities as professional conversations.

It’s easier to move from formal to casual than vice-versa.

• Don’t think that networking is all about you. If you talk only about your interests and
what other people can do for you, you’ll quickly find that few people will help. Always
offer to do something in return, even if that is just forwarding an article you think
they’d enjoy.
Read more about networking mistakes at:
www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2016/08/26/biggest-networking-mistake-you-can-make/

www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2016/08/09/common-networking-mistakes-avoid/
How to engage
authentically

Because you’re so focused on landing an internship or a job,

it’s easy to think that networking is all about you. That
perspective is a mistake; networking is a two-way street.

Networking is about communicating with professionals or other

job seekers and building relationships with them. If you pause
from talking about your own interests, and listen to what
people have to say about themselves, you will learn valuable
information that can benefit your career.

It all comes down to authenticity. Are you joining professional

groups and meeting people to only serve your career and to be
the loudest, most talkative person in the room? If so, you will
get nowhere fast.
How to engage
authentically

Show a genuine interest in new people, sharing ideas, asking

questions, and developing relationships. Nobody wants to help
a selfish person who tries controlling every conversation.

Being authentic also requires gratitude. Don’t forget to thank

whoever takes time to talk to you. Express how much you
appreciate each person’s time and energy.

Be proactive, connect online and schedule follow-ups with a

simple email or a request for a lunch meeting. Take action, be
humble, and maintain a level of professionalism.
Read more about engaging authentically at:
www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2016/08/19/networking-isnt-all-about-you/
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